In 1937 and 1938 the US Forest Service conducted aerial
photographic surveys of the Boulder area which graphically show some
of the profound changes that have occurred due to development in the
region.

Boulder and nearby communities have been built on or near
floodplains formed by Boulder Creek and its tributaries, and these 1937-38
images dramatically show the alluvial fans and floodplain channels,
particularly along South Boulder Creek. (Check out a comparison
of 1937 and 1987 images taken of the South Boulder Creek floodplain.)

Other features which can be seen in these images include
the old city of Boulder Sunshine
Reservoir (in the upper left corner of the top photo) which served
for many years as the primary storage for drinking water for the city.

These images also demonstrate that some things haven't
changed significantly in the decades since the photographs were taken,
largely due to the extensive Open Space and Mountain Parks that have
protected large areas from development.

In the coming months BASIN, working with students from
Boulder High School and using GIS data from the city of Boulder, will
be detailing changes that have occurred along Four Mile Canyon and Wonderland
Creeks in north Boulder.

INVITATION
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